Wednesday, March 7, 2007 [[Page D275]] Daily Digest Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S2743-S2852 Measures Introduced: Twenty bills and two resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 787-806, and S. Res. 99-100. Pages S2795-96 Measures Passed: National Safe Place Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 100, designating the week beginning March 12, 2007, as ``National Safe Place Week''. Pages S2849-50 Improving America's Security by Implementing Unfinished Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act: Senate continued consideration of S. 4, to make the United States more secure by implementing unfinished recommendations of the 9/11 Commission to fight the war on terror more effectively, to improve homeland security, withdrawing the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S2744-88 Adopted: By 51 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 64), McCaskill Modified Amendment No. 316 (to Amendment No. 275), to provide appeal rights and employee engagement mechanisms for passenger and property screeners. Pages S2744-45, S2746-49, S2757-59 Rejected: By 47 yeas to 52 nays (Vote No. 65), Collins Amendment No. 342 (to Amendment No. 275), to provide certain employment rights and an employee engagement mechanism for passenger and property screeners. Pages S2745, S2757-60 Coburn Amendment No. 345 (to Amendment No. 275), to authorize funding for the Emergency Communications and Interoperability Grants program, to require the Secretary to examine the possibility of allowing commercial entities to develop public safety communications networks. (By 71 yeas to 25 nays (Vote No. 66), Senate tabled the amendment). Pages S2744, S2779-83, S2786 Withdrawn: Lieberman Amendment No. 315 (to Amendment No. 275), to provide appeal rights and employee engagement mechanisms for passenger and property screeners. Page S2744 Pending: Reid Amendment No. 275, in the nature of a substitute. Page S2744 Sununu Amendment No. 291 (to Amendment No. 275), to ensure that the emergency communications and interoperability communications grant program does not exclude Internet Protocol-based interoperable solutions. Page S2744 Salazar/Lieberman Modified Amendment No. 290 (to Amendment No. 275), to require a quadrennial homeland security review. Page S2744 Dorgan/Conrad Amendment No. 313 (to Amendment No. 275), to require a report to Congress on the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and the leadership of al Qaeda. Page S2744 Landrieu Amendment No. 321 (to Amendment No. 275), to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to include levees in the list of critical infrastructure sectors. Page S2744 Landrieu Amendment No. 296 (to Amendment No. 275), to permit the cancellation of certain loans under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Page S2744 Landrieu Modified Amendment No. 295 (to Amendment No. 275), to provide adequate funding for local governments harmed by Hurricane Katrina of 2005 or Hurricane Rita of 2005. Pages S2744, S2783-84, S2785 Allard Amendment No. 272 (to Amendment No. 275), to prevent the fraudulent use of social security account numbers by allowing the sharing of social security data among agencies of the United States for identity theft prevention and immigration enforcement purposes. Pages S2744, S2763-64 McConnell (for Sessions) Amendment No. 305 (to Amendment No. 275), to clarify the voluntary inherent authority of States to assist in the enforcement of the immigration laws of the United States and to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide information related to aliens found to have violated certain immigration laws to the National Crime Information Center. Page S2744 McConnell (for Cornyn) Amendment No. 310 (to Amendment No. 275), to strengthen the Federal Government's ability to detain dangerous criminal [[Page D276]] aliens, including murderers, rapists, and child molesters, until they can be removed from the United States. Page S2744 McConnell (for Cornyn) Amendment No. 311 (to Amendment No. 275), to provide for immigration injunction reform. Page S2744 McConnell (for Cornyn) Modified Amendment No. 312 (to Amendment No. 275), to prohibit the recruitment of persons to participate in terrorism, to clarify that the revocation of an alien's visa or other documentation is not subject to judicial review, to strengthen the Federal Government's ability to detain dangerous criminal aliens, including murderers, rapists, and child molesters, until they can be removed from the United States, to prohibit the rewarding of suicide bombings and allow adequate punishments for terrorist murders, kidnappings, and sexual assaults. Pages S2744, S2774-79 McConnell (for Kyl) Modified Amendment No. 317 (to Amendment No. 275), to prohibit the rewarding of suicide bombings and allow adequate punishments for terrorist murders, kidnappings, and sexual assaults. Page S2744 McConnell (for Kyl) Amendment No. 318 (to Amendment No. 275), to protect classified information. Page S2744 McConnell (for Kyl) Amendment No. 319 (to Amendment No. 275), to provide for relief from (a)(3)(B) immigration bars from the Hmong and other groups who do not pose a threat to the United States, to designate the Taliban as a terrorist organization for immigration purposes. Page S2744 McConnell (for Kyl) Amendment No. 320 (to Amendment No. 275), to improve the Classified Information Procedures Act. Page S2744 McConnell (for Grassley) Amendment No. 300 (to Amendment No. 275), to clarify the revocation of an alien's visa or other documentation is not subject to judicial review. Page S2744 McConnell (for Grassley) Amendment No. 309 (to Amendment No. 275), to improve the prohibitions on money laundering. Page S2744 Thune Amendment No. 308 (to Amendment No. 275), to expand and improve the Proliferation Security Initiative while protecting the national security interests of the United States. Page S2744 Cardin Amendment No. 326 (to Amendment No. 275), to provide for a study of modification of area of jurisdiction of Office of National Capital Region Coordination. Page S2744 Cardin Amendment No. 327 (to Amendment No. 275), to reform mutual aid agreements for the National Capital Region. Page S2744 Cardin Modified Amendment No. 328 (to Amendment No. 275), to require Amtrak contracts and leases involving the State of Maryland to be governed by the laws of the District of Columbia. Page S2744 Schumer/Clinton Amendment No. 336 (to Amendment No. 275), to prohibit the use of the peer review process in determining the allocation of funds among metropolitan areas applying for grants under the Urban Area Security Initiative. Page S2744 Schumer/Clinton Amendment No. 337 (to Amendment No. 275), to provide for the use of funds in any grant under the Homeland Security Grant Program for personnel costs. Page S2744 Coburn Amendment No. 325 (to Amendment No. 275), to ensure the fiscal integrity of grants awarded by the Department of Homeland Security. Page S2744 Sessions Amendment No. 347 (to Amendment No. 275), to express the sense of the Congress regarding the funding of Senate approved construction of fencing and vehicle barriers along the southwest border of the United States. Page S2744 Coburn Amendment No. 301 (to Amendment No. 275), to prohibit grant recipients under grant programs administered by the Department from expending funds until the Secretary has reported to Congress that risk assessments of all programs and activities have been performed and completed, improper payments have been estimated, and corrective action plans have been developed and reported as required under the Improper Payments Act of 2002 (31 U.S.C. 3321 note). Page S2744 Coburn Amendment No. 294 (to Amendment No. 275), to provide that the provisions of the Act shall cease to have any force or effect on and after December 31, 2012, to ensure congressional review and oversight of the Act. Page S2744 Lieberman (for Menendez) Amendment No. 354 (to Amendment No. 275), to improve the security of cargo containers destined for the United States. Page S2744 Specter Amendment No. 286 (to Amendment No. 275), to restore habeas corpus for those detained by the United States. Pages S2744, S2749-54, S2766-74 Kyl Modified Amendment No. 357 (to Amendment No. 275), to amend the data-mining technology reporting requirement to avoid revealing existing patents, trade secrets, and confidential business processes, and to adopt a narrower definition of data-mining in order to exclude routine computer searches. Page S2744 Ensign Amendment No. 363 (to Amendment No. 275), to establish a Law Enforcement Assistance Force in the Department of Homeland Security to facilitate the contributions of retired law enforcement officers during major disasters. Page S2744 [[Page D277]] Biden Amendment No. 383 (to Amendment No. 275), to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop regulations regarding the transportation of high hazard materials. Pages S2754-55 Biden Amendment No. 384 (to Amendment No. 275), to establish a Homeland Security and Neighborhood Safety Trust Fund and refocus Federal priorities toward securing the Homeland. Pages S2755-57 Bunning Amendment No. 334 (to Amendment No. 275), to amend title 49, United States Code, to modify the authorities relating to Federal flight deck officers. Pages S2761-62 Schumer Modified Amendment No. 367 (to Amendment No. 275), to require the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to establish and implement a program to provide additional safety measures for vehicles that carry high hazardous materials. Page S2762 Schumer Amendment No. 366 (to Amendment No. 275), to restrict the authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to issue a license authorizing the export to a recipient country of highly enriched uranium for medical isotope production. Pages S2762-63 Wyden Amendment No. 348 (to Amendment No. 275), to require that a redacted version of the Executive Summary of the Office of Inspector General Report on Central Intelligence Agency Accountability Regarding Findings and Conclusions of the Joint Inquiry into Intelligence Community Activities Before and After the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001 is made available to the public. Pages S2764-66 Bond/Rockefeller Amendment No. 389 (to Amendment No. 275), to provide the sense of the Senate that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate should submit a report on the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission with respect to intelligence reform and congressional intelligence oversight reform. Pages S2765-66 Stevens Amendment No. 299 (to Amendment No. 275), to authorize NTIA to borrow against anticipated receipts of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Fund to initiate migration to a national IP-enabled emergency network capable of receiving and responding to all citizen activated emergency communications. Pages S2784-85 A motion was entered to close further debate on McConnell (for Cornyn) Modified Amendment No. 312 (to Amendment No. 275) (listed above), and, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur on Friday, March 9, 2007. Page S2777 A unanimous-consent request was granted permitting Senator Coburn to change his yea vote to a nay vote on Vote No. 62 changing the outcome of the vote to 58 yeas to 41 nays relative to motion to table Obama Amendment No. 338 (tabled on March 6, 2007). Page S2779 A motion was entered to close further debate on Reid Amendment No. 275 (listed above), and, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur on Friday, March 9, 2007. Page S2777 A motion was entered to close further debate on the bill, and, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur on Friday, March 9, 2007. Page S2777 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the bill at approximately 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, March 8, 2007. Page S2850 Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations: Stanley Davis Phillips, of North Carolina, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Estonia. William B. Wood, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Pages S2849, S2852 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: Joseph Timothy Kelliher, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the term expiring June 30, 2012. Kerri Layne Briggs, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education. Douglas G. Myers, of California, to be a Member of the National Museum and Library Services Board for a term expiring December 6, 2011. Jeffrey Patchen, of Indiana, to be a Member of the National Museum and Library Services Board for a term expiring December 6, 2011. Lotsee Patterson, of Oklahoma, to be a Member of the National Museum and Library Services Board for a term expiring December 6, 2011. A routine list in the Foreign Service. Pages S2851-52 Messages from the House: Page S2794 Messages Referred: Page S2794 Executive Communications: Pages S2794-95 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S2796-97 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S2797-S2824 Additional Statements: Pages S2793-94 Amendments Submitted: Pages S2824-48 [[Page D278]] Authorities for Committees to Meet: Pages S2848-49 Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--66) Pages S2759, S2760, S2786 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 7:43 p.m., until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 8, 2007. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on pages S2850- 51.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded a hearing to examine investing in our nation's future through agricultural research, focusing the Agricultural Bioenergy and Biobased Products Research Initiative, specialty crops, and Foreign Animal Disease Research, after receiving testimony from Gale Buchanan, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics; Alan I. Leshner, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, D.C.; Jeffrey D. Armstrong, Michigan State University, East Lansing; William H. Danforth, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri; and Francis Thicke, Radiance Dairy Farm, Fairfield, Iowa. MEDICAL READINESS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense concluded a hearing to examine Department of Defense medical programs, focusing on combat casualty care, and recruitment and retention efforts of medical department personnel, after receiving testimony from Lieutenant General James G. Roudebush, Surgeon General, and Major General Melissa A. Rank, Assistant Surgeon General for Nursing Services, both of the United States Air Force; Vice Admiral Donald C. Arthur, Surgeon General, and Rear Admiral Christine M. Bruzek-Kohler, Director of Nurse Corps, both of the United States Navy; and Lieutenant General Kevin C. Kiley, Surgeon General, and Major General Gale Pollock, Chief of the Nurse Corps, both of the United States Army. APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water concluded a hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2008 for the Department of Energy, after receiving testimony from James A. Rispoli, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, and Edward F. Sproat, III, Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, both of the Department of Energy. PHARMACEUTICAL IMPORTATION Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Trade, Tourism, and Economic Development concluded a hearing to examine policy implications of pharmaceutical importation for U.S. consumers, including S. 242, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the importation of prescription drugs, after receiving testimony from Randall W. Lutter, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services; former Representative Billy Tauzin, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, William B. Schultz, Zuckerman Spaeder LLP, and Nelda Barnett, AARP, all of Washington, D.C.; Stephen W. Schondelmeyer, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Minneapolis; and John A. Vernon, University of Connecticut Department of Finance School of Business, Storrs. EARTH SCIENCE RESEARCH Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Science and Space concluded a hearing to examine national imperatives for Earth Science research, after receiving testimony from Michael H. Freilich, Director, Earth Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Berrien Moore, III, University of New Hampshire Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, Durham, and Otis B. Brown, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Key Biscayne, Florida, both on behalf of the National Academies; Nancy Colleton, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Arlington, Virginia, on behalf of the Alliance for Earth Observations. ADVANCED ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded an oversight hearing to examine market constraints on large investments in advanced energy technologies and investigate ways to stimulate additional private-sector investment in the deployment of these technologies, after receiving testimony from Dan W. Reicher, Google.org, Mountain View, California; Elon Musk, Tesla Motors, El Segundo, California; Jerome P. Peters, Jr., TD Banknorth, N.A., Westport, Connecticut; John Denniston, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, Menlo Park, California; and Michael Liebreich, New Energy Finance, London, United Kingdom. [[Page D279]] ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY BUDGET Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2008 for the Environmental Protection Agency, after receiving testimony from Stephen L. Johnson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency. CREDIT CARD PRACTICES Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations concluded a hearing to examine fees, interests rates and grace periods relating to credit card practices, focusing on high fees charged for late payments, over-the-limit charges, including how those fees are assessed, how they add to interest costs, and how they contribute to consumer debt, and an industry practice requiring consumer payments to be applied first to balances with the lowest interest rates instead of to balances with the highest interest rates, after receiving testimony from Alys Cohen, National Consumer Law Center, Washington, D.C., on behalf of National Association of Consumer Advocates; Bruce L. Hammonds, Bank of America, and Richard J. Srednicki, Chase Card Services, both of Wilmington, Delaware; Vikram A. Atal, Citigroup Inc., New York, New York; and Wesley Wannemacher, Lima, Ohio. AMERICAN COMPETITIVENESS Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded a hearing to examine strengthening American competitiveness for the 21st Century, after receiving testimony from William H. Gates, Microsoft Corporation, Seattle, Washington. MCCARRAN-FERGUSON ACT Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the McCarran-Ferguson Act and Antitrust Immunity, including S. 618, to further competition in the insurance industry, after receiving testimony from Senators Lott and Landrieu; Susan E. Voss, Iowa Department of Commerce, Des Moines, on behalf of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; J. Robert Hunter, Consumer Federation of America, and Marc Racicot, American Insurance Association, both of Washington, D.C.; and Michael M. Homan, New Orleans, Louisiana. ANTITRUST LAWS Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights concluded an oversight hearing to examine the enforcement of antitrust laws, including S. 316, to prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of a generic drug into the market, and S. 772, to amend the Federal antitrust laws to provide expanded coverage and to eliminate exemptions from such laws that are contrary to the public interest with respect to railroads, after receiving testimony from Thomas O. Barnett, Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division, Department of Justice; and Deborah Platt Majoras, Chairman, Federal Trade Commission. VA CLAIMS ADJUDICATION PROCESS Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded an oversight hearing to examine the Veterans' Administration disability benefits adjudication process, focusing on the timeliness and accuracy of decisions on claims and appeals, and efforts to reduce backlogs, and concerns about decisional consistency, after receiving testimony from Daniel L. Cooper, Under Secretary for Benefits, and James P. Terry, Chairman, Board of Veterans' Appeals, both of the Department of Veterans Affairs; Daniel Bertoni, Acting Director, Education, Workforce and Income Security, Government Accountability Office; John Rowan, Vietnam Veterans of America, Silver Spring, Maryland; and Rick Surratt, Disabled American Veterans, Cold Spring, Kentucky. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 32 public bills, H.R. 1365- 1396; and 10 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 84; and H. Res. 218, 220-227 were introduced. Pages H2300-02 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H2302-03 Report Filed: A report was filed today as follows: H. Res. 219, providing for consideration of H. Res. 202, providing for the expenses of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the One Hundred Tenth Congress (H. Rept. 110-34). Page H2300 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed Representative McCollum to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today. Page H2245 [[Page D280]] Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Rev. Martin L. Wilson, El Paso Sector Chaplain, U.S. Border Patrol. Page H2245 Recess: The House recessed at 10:05 a.m. for the purpose of receiving His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The House reconvened at 12:18 p.m., and agreed that the proceedings had during the Joint Meeting be printed in the Record. Page H2245 Joint Meeting to receive His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan: The House and Senate met in a joint session to receive His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. He was escorted into the Chamber by a committee comprised of Representatives Hoyer, Clyburn, Lantos, Rahall, Ackerman, Lowey, Boehner, Blunt, Putnam, Ros-Lehtinen, Issa, and Pence; and Senators Reid, Durbin, Leahy, Kerry, McConnell, Lott, Kyl, and Cornyn. Page H2246 Water Quality Investment Act of 2007: The House passed H.R. 569, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for sewer overflow control grants, by a yea-and-nay vote of 367 yeas to 58 nays, Roll No. 125. Pages H2250-65 Agreed to the McHenry motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment, by a recorded vote of 425 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 124. Subsequently, Representative Oberstar reported the bill back to the House with the amendment and the amendment was agreed to. Pages H2263-65 Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure now printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment and shall be considered as read. Page H2258 Agreed to: King (IA) amendment (No. 3 printed in the Congressional Record of March 6, 2007) that reduces funds in the sewer overflow control grants section by 5 percent. Pages H2258-59 Rejected: Price (GA) amendment (No. 1 printed in the Congressional Record of March 6, 2007) that sought to add a new section to the bill relating to the requirement of offsets (by a recorded vote of 166 ayes to 260 noes, Roll No. 123). Pages H2259-61, H2262-63 Point of Order sustained against: Rohrabacher amendment (No. 2 printed in the Congressional Record of March 6, 2007) that sought to add a new subsection relating to participation in the employment eligibility verification pilot program. Pages H2261-62 H. Res. 214, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by voice vote. Page H2252 Recess: The House recessed at 2:09 p.m. and reconvened at 4:07 p.m. Page H2262 Suspension--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measure which was debated on Tuesday, March 6th: Living Kidney Organ Donation Clarification Act: H.R. 710, amended, to amend the National Organ Transplant Act to clarify that kidney paired donation does not involve the transfer of a human organ for valuable consideration, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 422 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 126. Pages H2265-66 Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To amend the National Organ Transplant Act to provide that criminal penalties do not apply to paired donations of human kidneys, and for other purposes.''. Pages H2265-66 Amendments: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the rule appear on page H2303. Quorum Calls--Votes: Two yea-and-nay votes and two recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H2262, H2264-65 and H2265. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 10:09 p.m. Committee Meetings FINANCING RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research held a hearing to review the financial structure of renewable energy resources. Testimony was heard from Thomas C. Dorr, Under Secretary, Rural Development, USDA; Andy Karsner, Assistant Secretary, Department of Energy; Kathleen McGinty, Secretary, Department of Environmental Protection, State of Pennsylvania; and public witnesses. COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies held a hearing on Economic and Statistics Administration/Census Bureau, Bureau of Economic Analysis. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Commerce: Cynthia A. Glassman, Under Secretary, Economic Affairs, Economics and [[Page D281]] Statistics Administration; Charles Louis Kincannon, Director, Census Bureau; Steve Landefeld, Director, Bureau of Economic Analysis. The Subcommittee also held a hearing on Economic Development Administration/Minority Business Development Agency. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Commerce: Sandy K. Baruah, Assistant Secretary, Economic Development; and Ronald Langston, National Director, Minority Business Development Agency. DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on Walter Reed Infrastructure. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of the Army: GEN Peter Schoomaker, USA, Chief of Staff; GEN Richard Cosy, USA, Vice Chief of Staff; and GEN Kevin C. Kiley, USA, Army Surgeon General. FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services, and General Government held a hearing on Ensuring the Integrity of Elections. Testimony was heard from Donetta L. Davidson, Chair, Election Assistance Commission; Randolph C. Hite, Director, Information Technology Architecture and Systems, GAO, and public witnesses. MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans' Affairs and Related Agencies held a hearing on Pacific Command. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: ADM William J. Fallon, USN, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command; GEN Burwell B. Bell, III, USAF, Commander, United Nations Command, Commander, Republic of Korea-United States Combined Fores Command and Commander, United States Forces Korea. NATIONAL DEFENSE BUDGET REQUEST--PACIFIC COMMAND AND FORCES KOREA Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Budget Request from the U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: ADM William J. Fallon, USN, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command; and GEN Burwell B. Bell, III, USAF, Commander, United Nations Command, Commander, Republic of Korea--United States Combined Forces Command and Commander, United States Forces Korea. AIR LIFT AMD AERIAL REFUELING PROGRAMS Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces held a hearing on Air Force and Army airlift and aerial refueling fixed-wing aircraft programs. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: LTG C.H. Chandler, USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Plans and Requirements; LTG Donald J. Hoffman, USAF, Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary, Office of the Assistant of the Air Force, Acquisition and MG Thomas P. Kane, USAF, Director, Strategic Plans, Requirements, and Programs, Air Mobility Command, all with the U.S. Air Force; and LTG Mark Curran, USA, Deputy Commander, Training and Doctrine Command; and MG (Select) Jeffrey Sorenson, USA, Deputy, Systems Command Management, Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology), both with the U.S. Army; William Solis, Director, Defense Capabilities and Management and Michael Sullivan, Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, both with the GAO; and Christopher Bolkcom, Specialist in National Defense, CRS, Library of Congress. CLIMATE CHANGE AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality held a hearing entitled ``Climate Change: Are Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Human Activities Contributing to a Warming of the Planet?'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. FUTURE OF RADIO Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet held a hearing entitled ``Digital Future of the United States: Part II--The Future of Radio.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. GULF COAST HURRICANE HOUSING RELIEF ACT Committee on Financial Institutions: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 1227, Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act of 2007. LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN REMITTANCES Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic and International Policy, Trade, and Technology held a hearing entitled ``The Role of Remittances in Leveraging Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. [[Page D282]] SOUTH ASIA OVERVIEW Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia held a hearing on A Regional Overview of South Asia. Testimony was heard from Richard A. Boucher, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Department of State. ELECTION DECEPTION AND IRREGULARITIES Committee on the Judiciary: Held a hearing on ``Protecting the Right to Vote: Election Deception and Irregularities in Recent Federal Elections.'' Testimony was heard from Senators Obama and Cardin; Representatives Loretta Sanchez, Bilbray, King of Iowa, and Emanuel; and public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Natural Resources: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 162, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve Boundary Adjustment Act of 2007; H.R. 249, To restore the prohibition on the commercial sale and slaughter of wild free-roaming horses and burros; H.R. 285, amended, Steel Industry National Historic Site Act; H.R. 309, amended, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a demonstration program to facilitate landscape restoration programs within certain units of the National Park System established by law to preserve and interpret resources associated with American history; H.R. 319, amended, Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area Act; H.R. 865, Copper Valley Native Allotment Resolution Act of 2007; and H.R. 886, Wild Sky Wilderness Act of 2007. COMMITTEE FUNDING RESOLUTION Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote of 9 to 3, a closed rule, providing for consideration of H. Res. 202, Providing for the expenses of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the One Hundred Tenth Congress. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on House Administration. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the resolution. The rule provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on House Administration now printed in the bill, modified by the amendment printed in the report accompanying the resolution, shall be considered as adopted. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit which may not contain instructions. Testimony was heard from Representatives Hastings of Washington, Issa and King of Iowa. ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BUDGET Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing on the Department of Energy Fiscal Year 2008 Research and Development Budget Proposal, Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Energy: Ray Orbach, Under Secretary, Science; Alexander Karsner, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Thomas D. Shope, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary; Dennis Spurgeon, Assistant Secretary, Nuclear Energy; and Kevin Kolevar, Director Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability. TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS INNOVATION Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``Advancing the Innovation Agenda: The Perspective of the Technology and Telecommunications Industry.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. TRANSIT AND RAIL SECURITY Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Highways and Transit and the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials held a joint hearing on Transit and Rail Security. Testimony was heard from Norman J. Rabkin, Homeland Security and Justice, GAO; Fred Weiderhold, National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK); and public witnesses. GREAT LAKES AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held a hearing on the impact of Aquatic Invasive Species on the Great Lakes. Testimony was heard from Benjamin H. Grumbles, Assistant Administrator, Water, EPA; and public witnesses. PERFORMANCE REVIEW Committee on Veterans Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held a hearing on Performance Review of Services. Testimony was heard from Charles S. Ciccolella, Assistant Secretary, Veterans' Employment and Training Service, Department of Labor; and the following officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs: Keith M. Wilson, Director, Education Service; Bill Borom, Deputy Director, Vocal Rehabilitation and Employment; and Keith Pedigo, Director, Loan Guaranty Service. ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures held a hearing on the Alternative Minimum Tax. Testimony was heard from the [[Page D283]] following officials of the Department of the Treasury: Eric Solomon, Assistant Secretary, Tax Policy; and Nina E. Olson, National Taxpayer Advocate, IRS; and public witnesses. HOT SPOTS BRIEFING Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to receive a briefing on Hot Spots. The Committee was briefed by departmental witnesses. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2007 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, to hold hearings to examine cross-border trucking with Mexico, 9:15 a.m., SD-138. Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, to hold hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2008 for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Science Foundation, 10 a.m., SD-192. Subcommittee on Homeland Security, to hold hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2008 for the Department of Homeland Security, 2:30 p.m., SD-192. Committee on Armed Services: to hold hearings to examine the nominations of Admiral Timothy J. Keating, USN, for reappointment to the grade of admiral and to be Commander, United States Pacific Command, Lieutenant General Victor E. Renuart, Jr., USAF, for appointment to be general and to be Commander, United States Northern Command/Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command, and Lieutenant General Robert L. Van Antwerp, USA, for reappointment to the grade of lieutenant general and to be Chief of Engineers/Commanding General, United States Army Corps of Engineers, 9:30 a.m., SH-216. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security, to hold hearings to examine the Administration's proposal to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration Part II, 9:30 a.m., SR-253. Committee on Finance: to hold hearings to examine perspectives on the 2007 trade agenda, 10 a.m., SD-215. Committee on Foreign Relations: to hold hearings to examine time for a new strategy relating to Afghanistan, 9:15 a.m., SD-419. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: to hold hearings to examine follow-on biologics, 10 a.m., SD-430. Committee on Indian Affairs: to hold hearings to examine the Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2007, 9:30 a.m., SR-485. Committee on the Judiciary: business meeting to consider the nominations of Thomas M. Hardiman, of Pennsylvania, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit, and Vanessa Lynne Bryant, to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut, the possibility of the issuance of certain subpoenas to former U.S. attorneys, S. 236, to require reports to Congress on Federal agency use of data mining, S. 261, to amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting, S. 376, to amend title 18, United States Code, to improve the provisions relating to the carrying of concealed weapons by law enforcement officers, S. 231, to authorize the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program at fiscal year 2006 levels through 2012, S. 368, to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to enhance the COPS ON THE BEAT grant program, S. 655, to amend the Congressional Charter of The American National Red Cross to modernize its governance structure, to enhance the ability of the board of governors of The American National Red Cross to support the critical mission of The American Red Cross in the 21st century, S. 627, to amend the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to improve the health and well-being of maltreated infants and toddlers through the creation of a National Court Teams Resource Center, to assist local Court Teams, S. Res. 88, honoring the extraordinary achievements of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, and S. Con. Res. 14, commemorating the 85th anniversary of the founding of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, a leading association for the 1,300,000 United States citizens of Greek ancestry and Philhellenes in the United States, 10 a.m., SD-226. Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship: to hold hearings to examine small business solutions for combating climate change, 10 a.m., SR-428A. Committee on Veterans' Affairs: to hold joint hearings with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to examine the legislative presentation of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Jewish War Veterans, Blinded Veterans Association, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Non Commissioned Officers Association, 9:30 a.m., SD-106. House Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry, hearing to review the impact of feed costs on the livestock industry, 10 a.m., 1302 Longworth. Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, on Food and Nutrition Service, 10 a.m., 2362A Rayburn. Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, on National Institute of Standards and Technology, 10 a.m., and on National Telecommunications and Information Administration/Patent and Trademark Office, 2 p.m., H-309 Capitol. Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies, on Department of Energy: Environmental Management, Legacy Management, 10 a.m., 2362B Rayburn. Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, on Supreme Court, 10 a.m., 2220 Rayburn. [[Page D284]] Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, on Secretary of the Interior, 9:30 a.m., B-308 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, on Administration for Children and Families, 10 a.m., 2359 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, on U.S. Capitol Police Budget, 10 a.m., H-144 Capitol. Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans' Affairs and Related Agencies, on VA Mental Health Programs and Initiatives, 10 a.m., and on VA Homeless Programs, 1 p.m., H-143 Capitol. Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, on Foreign Assistance Budget, Foreign Affairs Restructuring, 2 p.m., 2359 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, on Building Sustainable Communities: Sensible Links between Housing and Transportation, 10 a.m., 2358 Rayburn. Committee on Armed Services, hearing on challenges and obstacles wounded and injured service members face during recovery, 10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces, hearing on submarine force structure and acquisition policy, 2 p.m., 2212 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, hearing on the posture of the U.S. Strategic Command, 3 p.m., 2118 Rayburn. Committee on Education and Labor, Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness, hearing on the State of Higher Education: How Students Access and Finance a College Education,'' 10:30 a.m., 2175 Rayburn. Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials and the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, joint hearing entitled ``The Environmental Protection Agency's Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2008,'' 9 a.m., 2123 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Health, hearing entitled ``H.R. 493, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act,'' 1 p.m., 2123 Rayburn. Committee on Financial Services, hearing entitled ``Empowering Shareholders on Executive Compensation: H.R. 1257, Shareholder Vote on Executive Compensation Act,'' 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn. Committee on Foreign Affairs, hearing on Foreign Assistance Reform, 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn. Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight and the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, joint hearing on Polling Data on Latin American Opinion of the United States Policies, Values and People, 3 p.m., 2172 Rayburn. Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism, to continue hearings entitled ``Border Security: Infrastructure, Technology, and the Human Element, Part II,'' 1 p.m., 1539 Longworth. Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property, hearing on ``An Update--Piracy on University Networks,'' 2 p.m., 2141 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, hearing on the McNulty Memorandum's Effect on the Right to Counsel in Corporate Investigations, 9:30 a.m., 2141 Rayburn. Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Water and Power, oversight hearing on the fiscal year 2008 budget requests for the Bureau of Reclamation, the Federal Power Marketing Administrations, and the Water Resources division of the U.S. Geological Survey, 2 p.m., 1324 Longworth. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, to mark up the following measures: H.R. 1255, Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007; H.R. 1254, Presidential Library Donation Reform Act of 2007; H.R. 1309, To promote openness in Government by strengthening section 552 of title 5, United States Code (Commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act); H. Res. 198, Recognizing the significance of Black History Month; H.R. 89, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a day should be established as Dutch-American Friendship Day to celebrate the historic ties of the United States and the Netherlands; and H. Res. 136, Commending the Girl Scouts of the United States of America on the occasion of their 95th anniversary, for providing quality age-appropriate experiences that prepare girls to become the leaders of tomorrow and for raising issues important to girls, 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia, hearing on the ``Status of Federal Personnel Reform, 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn. Committee on Rules, to consider H.R. 720, Water Quality Financing Act of 2007, 2 p.m., H-313 Capitol. Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Research and Science Education, hearing on Improving the Laboratory Experience for America's High School Students, 2 p.m., 2318 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation, hearing on the Department of Homeland Security's R&D Budget Priorities for Fiscal Year 2008, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn. Committee on Small Business, hearing to review legislation affecting the SBA's Disaster and Access to Capital programs, 10 a.m., 2360 Rayburn. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, oversight hearing on the Coast Guard Budget and Authorization for Fiscal Year 2008, 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn. Committee on Veterans Affairs, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing on Service Members Seamless Transition into Civilian Life--The Heroes Return, 3:30 p.m., 334 Cannon. Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Health and the Subcommittee on Oversight, joint hearing on Medicare Program Integrity, 10 a.m., 1100 Longworth. Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, executive hearing on Military Intelligence Program (MIP) Budget Overview, 10:30 a.m., H- 405 Capitol. Joint Meetings Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to hold joint hearings with the House Committee on [[Page D285]] Veterans' Affairs to examine the legislative presentation of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Jewish War Veterans, Blinded Veterans Association, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Non Commissioned Officers Association, 9:30 a.m., SD-106. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390). The Periodicals postage is paid at Washington, D.C. 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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Record, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, Along with the entire mailing label from the last issue received. [[Page D286]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:30 a.m., Thursday, March 8 Senate Chamber Program for Thursday: After the transaction of any morning business (not to extend beyond 60 minutes), Senate will continue consideration of S. 4, Improving America's Security by Implementing Unfinished Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 10 a.m., Thursday, March 8 House Chamber Program for Thursday: Consideration of H.R. 700--Healthy Communities Water Supply Act of 2007 and H. Res. 202--Providing for the expenses of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the One Hundred Tenth Congress. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Davis, David, Tenn., E482 Ellsworth, Brad, Ind., E481 English, Phil, Pa., E483 Garrett, Scott, N.J., E481 Grijalva, Raul M., Ariz., E483 Gutierrez, Luis V., Ill., E482 Higgins, Brian, N.Y., E480 Kanjorski, Paul E., Pa., E479, E479, E480 Pence, Mike, Ind., E481 Sali, Bill, Ida., E482 Shuster, Bill, Pa., E479, E480 Tiahrt, Todd, Kans., E479, E480 Watson, Diane E., Calif., E483